170 NINTH REPORT. 



they uttered only a few call notes as they flew low down just above the water 

 and settled in the willow bushes. A low subdued murmur gave some idea of 

 the great number of individuals. When the weather is clear the grand 

 chorus of voices can be heard nearly a mile away. 



September 30.- — On the forenoon of this day four Ruffed Grouse were seen 

 at the side of the road near the outlet, in a thick tangle of wild grapevines. 

 These birds are very fond of the grapes and are often found in the fall in 

 such places. A single Killdeer was heard calling. 



October 2. — Flocks of Juncoes, Towhees, Tree and White-crowned Spar- 

 rows, Crows, Jays. Robins and Bluebirds were seen on this date. Many of them 

 may have come in during the night as they seemed greatly fatigued. On 

 the lake a flock of Mallard Ducks was observed. At 8 p. m. a Ruffed Grouse 

 was heard drumming. It was a clear moonlight night and the bird was not 

 far away, although the noise was soft and subdued. Although it is often 

 heard just after sunset this was the latest hour that I ever heard it 



October 3. — A Hermit Thrush, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and an Orange- 

 crowned Warbler were taken on this date. This is apparently the second 

 fall record of the latter species for Michigan, and the first for this county. 

 W. W. Cooke states that but few fall records have been made. This bird 

 was feeding in the tops of the red cedars on the bluff, in company with an- 

 other individual which I took to be of the same species, but as they were 

 almost constantly in motion I could not be certain in my identification. 

 About noon a flock of about one hundred Robins was seen at a considerable 

 height flying toward the south. About sundown a flock of Black Ducks 

 flew over the lake, and in the evening a Screch Owl was heard in the trees 

 along the bluff. 



October 4. — No new arrivals and very few birds were seen on this date, 

 probably owing to the inclement weather. 



October 5. — A small flock of Rusty Grackles was seen along the 

 shore of the lake, where they seemed to be picking up food from the beach. 

 A number of Swamp Sparrows were found feeding on the seeds of the sweet 

 clover near the edge of the willows at the foot of the bluff, and large flocks of 

 Myrtle Warblers were feeding in the orchard with Song and Chipping Spar- 

 rows, Chickadees, Robins and Bluebirds. 



October 6.^ — The same birds observed as on the preceding day, with the 

 addition of the Marsh Hawk and Mourning Dove. 



October 7. — Observations as on the preceding day, with the addition of 

 the Red-tailed Hawk. 



October 8. — In addition to the birds seen on the past few days a Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk was seen in the orchard. 



October 9. — Several flocks of Golden-crowned Kinglets, a few Sparrows 

 and Mourning Doves, a Phoebe, and flocks of Juncoes and Tree Sparrows 

 were observed. On the lake about twenty Coots, a Great Blue Heron and 

 one Greater Yellow-legs were seen. Large flocks of Bronzed Grackles, 

 and Red-winged Blackbirds still occupied the roosts. 



October 10. — Doubtless owing to the cold and stormy weather (with snow) 

 the birds were in hiding for the greater part of the day. A Kingfisher, Kill- 

 deer, Great Blue Heron and Greater Yellow-legs were seen about the lake, 

 and in the orchard several Song Sparrows, a Chipping Sparrow, a Phoebe, 

 Robins, Crows, Jays and Flickers. In the evening a Barred Owl was heard. 



October 11. — The margin of the lake and the ground was frozen on 

 this date. Three Greater Yellow-legs and a flock of fifteen Redhead Ducks 

 were seen about the lake. A Winter Wren was found, and also the first Fox 



